SAINT LOUIS, October 5, 2010 – The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) has been selected to host the U.S Championship and the U.S. Women’s Championship for the third year in a row. These two prestigious events will be held concurrently in Spring 2011 and will feature the largest per capita prize funds in history.

A prize fund of at least $170,000 is guaranteed for the 2011 U.S. Championship, and $60,000 for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship.

This year, the field in each tournament will be reduced, further heightening the conditions and top-notch level of play each of these events has showcased in the two previous years. The 2011 U.S. Championship will feature 16 competitors, and the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship will see eight players competing for the title. All players will be hosted at the historic and luxurious Chase Hotel, a short walk from the Chess Club.

The US Championship will be split into two round robin fields of eight-players, with the top two players from each round robin advancing to a four-player knockout finale. The US Women’s Championship will see eight players facing off in a preliminary round robin, with the top four players also advancing to a four-player knockout finale. Look for further details to come.

Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said the 2011 event will, once again, raise the bar for U.S. Championship chess.“We are thrilled to once again host these two prestigious tournaments, and as always, we are working hard to make these events more exciting than ever,” Rich said.

Although four spots are still currently categorized as “wildcards” in the 2011 US Championship the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is strongly considering using two of those spots for a Wildcard Qualifier Event, to be held at the CCSCSL about two months prior to the Championship. Details to be announced soon.

The breakdown of the 16 invitations for the 2011 U.S. Championship is as follows:
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Champion
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Women’s Champion
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Champion
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Senior Open Champion
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Open Champion
· (7) The top seven U.S. players by rating (by the January rating supplement)
· (4) Four wildcards

The breakdown of the eight invitations for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship is as follows:
· (1) The 2010 U.S. Women’s Champion
· (6) The top six female U.S. players by rating (by the January rating supplement)
· (1) One wildcard spot

Both of these tournaments will feature live grandmaster commentary and analysis, and the streaming video of the commentary will be broadcast at www.uschesschamps.com, the official website of the U.S. Championships.